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The torch is sliding toward Northern Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Opening ceremonies for the Milan Cortina Games are tonight—featuring musical performances from Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli—but some sports (curling and women’s hockey) have already hit the ice.

Over the next two weeks, 2,000+ athletes from 90+ nations will go for gold in 16 sports, including eight new events and one new sport: ski mountaineering (AKA skimo, which involves skiing uphill, no lifts allowed). 

Team USA hopes a strong women’s figure-skating trio, “Quad God” Ilia Malinin (see his on-ice spinssss), and NHL players’ Olympic return will boost its medal count after 2022’s fifth overall finish. Five-time Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn—back on the slopes after a six-year hiatus—says she’s “confident” she’ll compete despite rupturing her ACL last week.

See the full frozen schedule here. 

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Sports can teach us a lot about everyday life—the value of teamwork, perseverance, and even loyalty as a fan. Athletes’ commitment to their sport encourages us to press towards the “imperishable crown” Christians will receive one day, and fans’ joy for their team can give us a foretaste of the greatest celebration in history. 

“Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown.” 
1 Corinthians 9:25 (CSB) (read full passage)

The Supreme Court has okayed California’s Democrat-friendly redistricting map.

On Wednesday, the Supremes declined an emergency appeal from California Republicans seeking to block the Golden State’s voter-approved congressional map, which is designed to flip five House seats blue in the 2026 midterms.  

The justices rejected claims that the map was unconstitutional racial gerrymandering meant to boost Latino voting power, instead aligning with their December thumbs-up to Texas’s new Republican-friendly maps. In both cases, the Court signaled that political—rather than racial—gerrymandering is legally permissible. 

The rulings likely cancel each other out in House math. Meanwhile, seven other states are exploring redistricting—an unusual mid-decade surge, since maps are typically only redrawn post-census—making this the biggest map-editing flurry since the 1800s.  Republicans currently hold a narrow House majority (218-214); see a map of states’ redistricting statuses here.

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Verse to consider whether you’re battling for congressional seats, competing with a co-worker, or officiating sibling squabbles… “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:3-4 (CSB) (read full passage)

(Need to catch up on the ins and outs of gerrymandering? Check out this edition of TPO Explains.)

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The search for Nancy Guthrie, Today Show anchor Savannah Guthrie’s mom, continues.

Tuesday, both TMZ and an Arizona TV station reported receiving ransom emails demanding millions of dollars in bitcoin for Nancy’s release. The message referenced specific details inside Nancy’s home and what she was wearing the night she disappeared. 

Wednesday, Savannah appeared in a video alongside her siblings, thanking the public for their prayers and addressing the presumed kidnapper directly. They acknowledged the unverified ransom letter, saying they’re “ready to talk” but only after receiving verified proof of life—noting how easily voices and images can be manipulated.

A California man was arrested for sending the family a phony ransom text after their statement, but authorities say he was an opportunist, not the kidnapper. The FBI is offering a reward up to $50,000 for information.

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PRAY WITH US
Join us in prayer for the Guthrie family and Nancy’s community, that the “God of all comfort” would move in power in this time of incredible uncertainty and grief (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

“Grant, O Lord, to all who are bereaved the spirit of faith and courage, that they may have strength to meet the days to come with steadfastness and patience; not sorrowing as those without hope, but in thankful remembrance of your great goodness, and in the joyful expectation of eternal life with all who love you.” 
Book of Common Prayer, page 264

Bitcoin’s feelin’ bearish. The cryptocurrency dropped below $63K yesterday—down ~50% from its $126K peak in October and its lowest value since November 2024—amid an ongoing selloff. Bitcoin’s been burning a hole in cryptowallets since President Trump tapped Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chair, increasing fears that Uncle Sam won’t back crypto.

The Washington Post is editing itself, laying off 30% of its staff. Wednesday, executives said the paper had been “too rooted in a different era,” shredding sports, local, and international coverage to focus on national reporting, features, and health amid steep financial losses and falling web traffic. The move has intensified scrutiny of owner, Jeff Bezos, who hasn’t publicly commented.

A New York woman was awarded $2M in damages for a gender-transitioning surgery she received at 16. The plaintiff’s psychologist and surgeon were found guilty of medical malpractice for ignoring standards of care and failing to receive adequate informed consent, leading to a surgery she regretted. While the ethics of gender-transition surgery weren’t tried, the verdict could shape future “detransitioner” lawsuits.

The White House pulled back 700 immigration agents from Minnesota on Wednesday after President Trump said enforcement could use a “softer touch,” adding that you “still have to be tough” on “really hard criminals.” Border Czar Homan called it a 25% reduction, adding the goal is to “achieve a complete drawdown and end this surge.” ~2,000 agents remain in Minneapolis.

Nike’s DEI playbook got flagged for review. The swoosh is under investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for alleged discrimination against white employees. It’s the first high-profile investigation under the agency’s new Trump-appointed head. Under #47, the EEOC has called for cases involving bias against white workers. Nike called the escalation “surprising” and says it follows anti-discrimination laws.

BRB booking a trip to Scotland...

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